Complication of DM

Kidney DiseaseBackground: Diabetic nephropathy represents a distinct clinical syndrome characterized by albuminuria, hypertension, and progressive renal insufficiency. Diabetic nephropathy can lead to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), a serious condition in which a patient's survival depends on either dialysis or kidney transplantation.

Occurrence. Among persons who have had insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) for 20 years, the incidence of ESRD approaches 40%. Pathophysiology--IDDM. When diabetes is first diagnosed, the histological appearance of the kidney is normal. Within three years, however, the typical changes of diabetic glomerulosclerosis appear: thickening of the glomerular basement membrane and mesangial expansion. Renal blood flow and the (GFR) are characteristically elevated, correlating with an increase in kidney size and weight. Mild albuminuria may be present if glycemia is not well regulated. Because of renal hyperfiltration, serum creatinine and urea nitrogen concentrations are usually slightly reduced. After 10 to 15 years, the first laboratory evidence of renal damage may appear with the presence of persistent microalbuminuria (30 to 300 mg per 24 hours). In IDDM, the prevalence of hypertension increases markedly in patients with microalbuminuria, and hypertension clearly contributes to the progression of renal disease. Clinical diabetic nephropathy is said to be present when a patient who has had diabetes for more than five years and has evidence of diabetic retinopathy develops clinically apparent albuminuria (>300 mg per 24 hours) and has no evidence of any other cause of kidney disease. About four years after the onset of clinical diabetic nephropathy, the serum creatinine level rises to 2 mg/dL or greater. Within an additional three years, about one-half of patients will have developed ESRD.

Pathophysiology--NIDDM. The natural history of renal involvement in persons with NIDDM is not well established.

PreventionIn patients with albuminuria, blood pressure regulation is of critical importance in slowing the progression to renal failure. Other strategies that may slow the progression of renal disease include limiting the patient's protein intake, maintaining good glycemic control, promptly treating urinary tract infections, and avoiding potentially nephrotoxic drugs and radiographic dyes.

Detection All diabetic patients should have a urinalysis performed. If bacteria or white blood cells are seen, a culture should be obtained. Each year, obtain a sensitive quantitative measure of urinary albumin or protein excretion. In general, the protein excretion rate is about one third greater than that for albumin. Thus, a proteinexcretion rate of approximately 400 mg per 24 hours would correspond to an albumin excretion rate of 300 mg per 24 hours.

Complication of DM

Measure renal function (serum creatinine and/or creatinine clearance) each year. Exclude other possible causes of renal disease--particularly, obstructive uropathy and infection. If diabetic retinopathy is not present, suspect a nondiabetic cause of renal disease. Hypertension is a common development with the onset of diabetic nephropathy or shortly thereafter. If the patient's initial blood pressure is higher than 140/90 mm Hg, at least three additional readings should be obtained over the next month.

TreatmentAt present, no known interventions have been shown to reverse clinical diabetic nephropathy. However, practitioners can take several actions to monitor and perhaps slow the progress of this complication:

Complication of DM Occurrence : Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among persons with diabetes. In the United States in 1986, approximately 80,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease were associated with diabetes. The annual risk for death from cardiovascular disease is two to three times greater for persons with diabetes than for persons without diabetes. Risk factors: Smoking is a powerful risk factor for CVS disease, and the prevalence of smoking appears to be higher in young people (less than 21 years old) with diabetes than in young people without diabetes. Hypertension, occurs 2 to 3 times more often in persons with diabetes. Abnormalities in the concentration of lipids and lipoproteins in plasma have been reported to occur in almost 30% of persons with diabetes. Hypertriglyceridemia is common among persons with NIDDM. Diabetes itself is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

DetectionThe following guidelines may help in the detection of cardiovascular disease. At every office visit (at least four times a year)

Measure the patient's blood pressure with a cuff appropriate for the patient's size. Ask patients whether they have had symptoms of the following conditions:

Peripheral vascular disease

Intermittent claudication or foot ulcers that do not heal. --------------------------------------------------------------------------At least once a year

Ask patients about their use of tobacco.

Complication of DM

Auscultate for bruits over all large arteries and palpate all peripheral pulses.

Once a year

Measure triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and HDL cholesterol levels in the fasting state, and calculate the level of LDL cholesterol. For TG under 400 mg/dL, LDL = TC - HDL - (TG \ 5) For children, consider measuring lipids every two years. Obtain a baseline electrocardiogram in all patients with diabetes and repeat the procedure yearly for those with clinically apparent cardiovascular disease.

Treatment 1. Smoking. Strongly advise patients who smoke to quit.

2. Hypertension. Blood pressure should be maintained below 140/90 mm Hg. Select drugs that do not worsen other risk factors for cardiovascular disease (including lipids) and that do not induce or worsen autonomic neuropathic complications of diabetes (including hypoglycemia unawareness, orthostatic hypotension, or impotence). 3. Hyperlipidemia. When the calculated LDL cholesterol level is greater than 130 mg/dL, consider the following guidelines for glycemic control, diet, and exercise. 4. Glycemic control. Glycemic control should be improved through diet, use of sulfonylureas, or insulin therapy. 5. Dietary therapy. Dietary therapy should be instituted to reduce the weight of obese patients and to try to lower the LDL cholesterol level to below 130 mg/dL. 6. Exercise. Regular aerobic exercise has been shown to be a useful adjunct to weight loss and to have a beneficial effect on lipids, especially levels of triglycerides and HDL cholesterol. An exercise stress test is recommended for all diabetic patients over 40 years old who are considering an exercise program. 7. Reevaluation. After six months of therapy, if a patient's LDL cholesterol level is above 160 mg/Dl, consider drug therapy. Drugs used to treat patients with hypercholesterolemia include bile acid sequestrants (cholestyramine or colestipol), HMGCoA reductase inhibitors (lovastatin), fibric acid derivatives (gemfibrozil or clofibrate), nicotinic acid, and probucol. Drugs used to treat patients with hypertriglyceridemia include fibric acid derivatives (gemfibrozil or clofibrate) and nicotinic acid. 8. Cerebral vascular disease. Patients with symptomatic cerebral vascular disease may be treated with aspirin and anticoagulants. If symptoms persist despite pharmacological treatment and if correctable vascular lesions are present, surgery may be considered.